Browsing by Author "Boasu, Bismark Yeboah"

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    Assessing the effectiveness of fire risk communication in the management of fire disaster in the central market of Kumasi, Ghana.
    (KNUST, 2018-06) Boasu, Bismark Yeboah
    Disaster issues have become a serious obstacle to development around the world. Annually, a lot of people‟s livelihoods are affected, properties are destroyed and huge sums of money are lost to various forms of disasters. Africa is noticed to be the most vulnerable continent to disasters and Ghana ranks high among the countries with flood and fire being the most prominent disasters. In the Ashanti Region, however, fire outbreaks have become more frequent and serious, especially in the commercial areas, over the years. Within the capital city, Kumasi Metropolis, for instance, the incidence of fire outbreaks at the various market centres and the central market in particular has recently become phenomenal and at an alarming rate. This study was conducted to generally assess the effectiveness of fire risk communication in the management of fire disasters in the central market of Kumasi. The study was underpinned by pragmatist philosophy which incorporates mixed method for both data collection and analysis; premised on the Social Cognitive Theory and guided by Fire Risk Communication Model. Three hundred and seventy-six (376) respondents were randomly sampled from the various traders‟ associations. Data was then collected from them with the use of structured questionnaire, observation and Focus Group Discussion. Key informants were purposively selected from the government institutions, Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly and the traders‟ associations. Quantitative data were analysed using Partial Least Square Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM) method in the SmartPLS software package whilst qualitative data was analysed thematically after coding. Findings that emerge from the analysis among others are that the drivers for risk communication (i.e. method, medium, types, environment, capacity and collaboration) have positive relationships with fire risk communication by both fire authorities and the traders in the central market of Kumasi; the total fire risk communication in the central market provides a medium contribution to effective fire disaster in the central market but the contribution becomes small when fire risk communication by the authorities and the traders are separated; and the responses of both the traders and authorities to the fire risk communication from each other were adequate. The thesis has contributed to knowledge in areas of model building, methodology and policy framework. It is recommended among others that all the stakeholders for fire disaster management should collaborate and ensure that proper strategies and skills are employed to improve the effectiveness of fire risk communication in the central market of Kumasi.
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    Assessing the role of community-based organizations in agricultural development in the Ashanti Region
    (2011-12-04) Boasu, Bismark Yeboah
    The Agricultural sector has been one of the highest employers of the labour force and a significant contributor to the GDP of the entire economy. In their annual progress report for 2008, for instance, the NDPC confirmed that the agricultural sector alone engaged 60 per cent of the country’s labour force and also contributed 33.6 per cent to GDP for the 7.3 per cent growth rate achievement in 2008 (NDPC, 2009 : 45). This means that the rate of the country’s economic growth is intertwined with the performance of the agricultural sector. The Agricultural sector contributes substantially to government revenue. Hence, over the years, governments have made the necessary efforts to improve the agricultural sector of the economy. It is therefore not surprising that the nation’s medium and long term development strategies emphasize modernization of agriculture as the basis for industrialization and a driver of accelerated economic growth. The agricultural sector, undoubtedly, needs to be improved rigorously to complement the development of the industrial sector and others, hence the essence of the creation of an enabling environment by government for private sector and other organizations, including Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), to operate. However, many people are naïve about the roles of CBOs in the agricultural sector. This dissertation, therefore, assessed the roles of CBOs in agricultural development in Ghana. It further examined the operational environment of the CBOs and unveiled the challenges confronting their activities, especially, towards the development of agriculture. Geographically, the study focused on the Ashanti region owing to its vast agricultural land and potential labour for agricultural activities. Specifically, it was carried out using 25 CBOs in seven district assemblies. Descriptive research design was used for the study. Data, thus, was collected to answer research questions concerning the roles of CBOs and agricultural development in the Ashanti region. Both probability and non-probability sampling techniques were adopted for the study. The study revealed that CBOs play a major role in production, processing and marketing of agricultural goods. Education and training, as well as information dissemination, were also identified as part of the roles played by CBOs in the agricultural sector. Again, the findings highlighted weak financial base, poor external support and poor processing as issues of concern to CBOs in their operations in the region. The study concluded that the incapacity of the CBOs in the agricultural sector has a multi-factorial cause. It recommended that pragmatic intervention measures should be adopted by all stakeholders to build the capacity of CBOs and improve their method of operation towards agricultural development in Ghana as a whole and the Ashanti region in particular. These include the provision of frequent education and training, motivational packages, affordable modern equipment and loans to the members and the creation of conducive atmosphere to ensure effective networking, both internally and externally.